By Gill Stewart at
Festival …………… a word that conjures up images of balmy hot summer days, a beer in hand and shooting the breeze with your friends whilst partying or listening to the latest bands, or if you’re old enough, memories of Woodstock or Glastonbury.
Festivals used to be just associated with music events, but now there are more festivals than you can shake a (Nordic walking) stick at. Like food? There are Cheese festivals, Fish festivals and the lovely named Grillstock (yes that is a real festival – music and grilled food!) If Beer festivals are your thing they can be found in nearly every town come July and August.
Festivals bring out the holiday feeling in us; it’s all about that feel good feeling and sharing a common interest with your friends and strangers – that may become friends.
So why stop at music or food? Any shared interest can become a festival and generate those feelings, and Nordic Walking is no different. Walking festivals have grown massively in popularity over the past few years (and who could blame them – fresh air, nature and friends – what more could you want) and Nordic Walking UK has their very own.
For the third year running, on 14th – 16th September we will be returning to Purbeck in Dorset. – Three days of challenges, walking, the first Nordic Walking marathon, and at the end of the day what could be better than easing those tired muscles and swapping stories with friends (old and new) whilst listening to music in the fantastic setting of Corfe Castle.
If all this talk of warm summer days has got you in the mood for a weekend away and some walking festival fever, head over here to find out more and get booked in for Purbeck.
However, if you can’t wait that long to get that summer feeling, for the first time we have an early Festival on 4th 5th May set in the beautiful Derbyshire hills. If you’ve always fancied crossing the famous stepping stones at Dovedale – now is your chance. Staying at Tissington Hall; this is the gateway to the stunning Peak District, and we will make sure we cover lots of it with Instructor-led walks for all abilities. So if this is a little closer to home or you just can’t wait for Purbeck, take a look here for more information and to get booked in.
Still undecided? – Julia Doherty attended her first Purbeck festival in 2017 and is definitely planning to return in 2018. She says, “I already knew that I loved Nordic Walking and enjoyed my weekly walks with Alison (Instructor) but had never attended a walking festival before. A group of us went down to Dorset, and it was a fab three days. There is a great sense of friendship and camaraderie, and you get to meet and talk to so many other interesting people from different walks of life but with a shared interest of walking – some I hope will be lifetime friends. The different routes were varied and just challenging enough, and the Dorset scenery is just stunning. I’ll definitely be coming back.”
So, this year, when you are planning your holidays (and who isn’t in these dark days of January?) why not book yourself a weekend in this beautiful country of ours and have some festival fever to look forward to.